Day #115 Outcrop: Putnam Station Nonconformity

Today’s “outcrop” is, in fact, yet another roadcut – it seems all the best “outcrops” in the northeast are roadcuts, but who’s quibbling. This time we’re on the eastern margin of the Adirondacks near Putnam Station, NY. The contact here, between Proterozoic gneisses (below) and Cambrian Potsdam Sandstone (above), is extremely well preserved near the top of this small cut. The Potsdam even has a thin conglomerate bed just above the contact before grading upwards into more common sandstone layers. Zoom in and you’ll note that my field assistants came out to examine this exposure, as well. Berti is waving at you with his feet planted firmly on the Great Unconformity and Edi is below him examining the vertically foliated gneisses. Needless to say, a good time was had by all.